More Schemes To Be Integrated

May 14, 2019

After integrating all the health insurance schemes of the state and central governments, now Ayushman Bharat is planning to integrate the comprehensive health scheme (CHS), central government health service scheme (CGHS) and employee state insurance (ESI) under it in the next phase.
“Convergence of these three central government schemes, which are now being offered to government and retired employees, under Ayushman Bharat is our next mission. Our aim is that all government schemes should have same rates for treatment and same package offered to all the beneficiaries,” said Ayushman Bharat chief executive officer Dr Indu Bhushan.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme has been successfully implemented in almost all the states with a few exceptions. “Many states have come forward with universal coverage under the scheme without any class divide. This is what we were also targeting at. Quality treatment should be made available to all in the country under this scheme,’’ said Bhushan, who was in the state capital to review the implementation of the scheme in Kerala.

On Kerala not using the name Ayushman Bharat while rolling out the scheme from June, the CEO said: “We are not concerned over this. Our aim is to provide the best health insurance cover to all and if in Kerala it is going to benefit more people, then they are free to do so,” he said.

He also made it clear that the concern of private hospitals that many of the rates fixed for various treatment packages are not affordable can be addressed. “The main intention of the scheme is to ensure best specialty treatment offered by the private hospitals to the poor. Hence, all the fears expressed by hospitals can be discussed. We intend to include all the leading private hospitals with NABH accreditation under the scheme,” he said.

He added that Kerala has a strong public health network unlike many other northern states. Hence, implementing the scheme here will be a smooth affair. – Times of India